NZ509206A

NZ509206A - An electric fence conductor comprising a sheathed conducting wire surrounded by a stainless steel wire

Info

Publication number: NZ509206A
Application number: NZ509206A
Authority: NZ
Inventors: Jean-Michel Bellon
Original assignee: Jean Michel Bellon
Priority date: 2000-01-04
Filing date: 2001-01-03
Publication date: 2001-10-26
Also published as: US6513793B2; DE60001043D1; EP1114582B1; EP1114582A2; FR2803174B1; DE60001043T2; FR2803174A1; US20010015426A1; EP1114582A3

Abstract

An electric fence strand or ribbon includes at least one electrically conducting metal wire providing the mechanical properties of breaking stress, elongation and anti-corrosiveness to resist breakage and retain the conduction of electricity throughout the entire length of the electric fence. The strand or ribbon also has a support and incorporates at least one other electrically conducting wire providing the electrically conductivity such that the electric fence maintains its dissuasive and repellant nature to animals enclosed within it throughout the entire length of the fence. This electrically conductive wire is sheathed with an insulating material over its entire length except for zones distributed at regular intervals where the electrically conducting wire is in direct or indirect contact with the metal wire providing the mechanical properties.

Description

<div class="application article clearfix" id="description"> 50 92 0 6 9 Patents Form No. 5 Our Ref: JC214924 Patents Act 1 953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION ELECTRIC FENCE I, JEAN-MICHEL BELLON of Chemin de la Lie, 01480 Messimy Sur Saone, France hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: PT05A70222 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF N.Z. - 3 JAN 2001 RECEIVED 1 (followed by page 1a) 1 a KLECTRIC FENCE The invention relates to an electric fence more particularly intended for enclosing animals. 5 Increasingly, such fences, employing fencing ropes or tapes, allow users to keep the animals far more safely than other fences, such as those made of barbed wire in particular. 10 Specifically, because of the high voltage carried in the electrical conductors, most of the risks of injury to the animals are limited, while at the same time forcing the animals to observe defined limits. In fact, 15 the animals very soon learn to distinguish between an electric fence and a non-electrified fence. * Thus, a protected perimeter can be defined precisely, as the users choose, taking account of details specific 20 to each. However, changes in the world of agriculture are dictating the use of increasingly large plots and, as a side issue of this, increasingly long perimeters and 2 5 thus increasingly long distances that need to be electrified. Now, it is necessary for such distances to take account of the voltage available at any point along the fence, 3 0 including the points farthest from the source of power, so that the fence maintains its repellent qualities so that it maintains its reliability. To this end, electrification devices have undergone a 3 5 great deal of development, because it has thus become possible to increase their power while at the same time improving their reliability. In fact, electrification devices delivering a voltage of 10 000 volts or even more are now available on the market- Their reliability (followed by page 2) - 2 - is also optimized through the use of built-in electronics in such devices. The limiting factor therefore consists of the ropes and 5 tapes for electric fences, which run into various problems. Thus, in the case of fences of long length, these have simultaneously to have high mechanical strength, high 10 electrical conductivity and, furthermore, a relatively long life. The high electrical conductivity is needed for fences of long length, for which there is a desire to have, at 15 any point thereon, even at the ends furthest from the power source, the nominal voltage delivered by the latter or a high enough value appropriate to each animal (for example cows: 2500 V, horses: 1500 V, aheep: 4 000 V) . Thus, with materials with a relatively 20 high electrical resistivity, the current pulses end up being insufficient to give the said fence its dissuasive and repellent nature with respect to the animals enclosed. 25 Copper is particularly suitable for fulfilling this requirement. Unfortunately, it is far too weak and too quickly attacked by corrosion, which precludes its use by itself. 3 0 In fact, it is sometimes provided with protection, such as a coating of zinc, nickel or tin, and even sometimes silver, for example. However, corrosion sooner or later occurs. 3 5 This corrosion may also be accelerated by external factors such as contamination, salt mist, pesticides and other chemical products used m agriculture. - J - Aluminium for its part has a higher electrical resistivity than copper, but one which is, however, entirely adequate for the envisaged application. 5 However, these two metals have mechanical properties, particularly in terms of breaking stress and elongation, which are entirely incompatible with application to electric fences, mechanical strength being one of the requirements needed of the electric 10 wires used in the fence. In fact it should be remembered that these fences have to undergo numerous modifications as a result of the various possible configurations of pastures or lots, which lead to the wires quite frequently being folded up or rewound, 15 thereby causing localized mechanical stresses in one direction then the other, quite frequently leading to the breakage of the metal conductors, these breakages usually being undetectable when these metal elements are built into a synthetic support. 20 25 30 These breakages give rise to local impairment or even complete annihilation of the conduction of electricity at certain points in the fence, thus altering its effectiveness for the worst. It has therefore been proposed that use be made of conducting metal wires made of stainless steel, given the mechanical properties of this material, and particularly its elongation. Unfortunately, stainless steel has a relatively high electrical resistivity, in fact adversely affecting the good electrical conductivity and making it incompatible with use in large-sized fences unless several 35 electrification devices are used, which would then considerably increase the cost of such an electric fence. - 4 - The user is therefore faced with a choice between good electrical conductivity and a service life which is both sufficient and economically viable in the environment in which electric conductors have to be 5 placed. Various solutions have been proposed with a view to alleviating these drawbacks. 10 One of them, for example described in document EP-A-0 256 841, proposes associating two types of conductor within one and the same electric fence, these being a conductor with good mechanical properties and a conductor with good electrical conductivity. 15 In that way, when the conductor with good electrical conductivity breaks locally, and bearing m mind the fact that it is inserted in a textile support in the form of a braid, woven or twist, the wires with good 2 0 mechanical properties take over conducting electricity, which makes it possible to ensure continuity of the conduction of electricity to another metal element which is a good conductor of electricity. 2 5 However, it is to be noted that this result is possible only with a braided support, otherwise there is not any contact between the various metal conductors and the takeover cannot be achieved effectively. 3 0 Furthermore, even with such a configuration, conduction is not satisfactory (see, for example, in document FR-A-2 62 5 5 99, where an electric fence has a support within which a conductor made of stainless steel and a conductor made of copper are braided side by side, thus 35 providing several points of contact between these conductors: conduction is not satisfactory given the relative mobility of the wires with respect to each other, seeing as they are mounted like warp filaments. - 5 - Furthermore, the conductor of lower electrical conductivity affects the overall conduction of electricity, tending towards the same result as an electric fence incorporating a metal conductor of the 5 stainless steel type. Furthermore, the conducting element of good electrical conductivity, and in this instance the copper or the aluminium, is attacked by corrosion over time, leading 10 it to break at several points affecting the electrical conductivity needed to electrify long distances because, in this case, only the stainless steel that makes up the conductor with good mechanical properties then fulfils this function, but with a certain drop in 15 the desired efficiency. It haa also been proposed, for example in document FR-A-2 655 814, that use be made of conducting wires based on a binary copper/cadmium metal alloy coated at a 20 its periphery with a layer of nickel. While, unarguably, the use of such conducting wires makes it possible to achieve a certain efficiency when applied to electrification over long distances it does, however, prove to be relatively expensive given the 25 alloy used. The object of the invention is therefore to propose an electric fence capable both of being used over long distances and to be so without affecting the electrical 3 0 conductivity at any point whatsoever on the said fence and also capable of being accessible at reasonable cost while at the same time having mechanical properties capable of allowing it to be reused numerous times, or tc at least provide the public with a useful alternative. This electric fence comprises at least one electrically conducting metal wire with good mechanical properties associated with a support. It also incorporates another electrically conducting wire with good electrical conductivity, sheathed with an insulating material over - 6 - its entire length except for zones distributed at more or less regular intervals where the said conducting wire ia in direct or indirect contact with the said conducting metal wire with good mechanical properties. 5 In other words, seeing as the sheathed wire is a wire which ia a good conductor of electricity, the invention consists in employing an assembly consisting of at least one metal wire that is a good conductor of 10 electricity and metal wires with good mechanical properties, and in which the wire which is a good conductor of electricity ia sheathed over most of its length so as to protect it from attack by corrosion inherent to the external surroundings, or damage likely 15 to be caused during the successive unfoldings and refoldings of the fence. According to one embodiment o£ the invention, the support consists of the sheathed wire thus constituting 2 0 a strand or rope with the metal wire with good mechanical properties. According to another embodiment of the invention, the support consists of a woven, braided or knitted tape 25 made of an insulating, advantageously synthetic, material, the said sheathed conductor constituting one of the warp filaments. Contact between the sheath-free zones of the said 3 0 sheathed conductor and the metal wire or wires with good mechanical properties is by means of metal plates gripping the various conductors at the sheath-free zone of the said conductor with good electrical conductivity, for example at each end. 35 Advantageously, the sheath of the sheathed conductor is anti~UV treated, - 7 - The way in which the invention can be achieved and the advantages which stem therefrom will become better apparent from the exemplary embodiments which follow, which are given by way of indicative and nonlimiting 5 example with the support of the appended figures. Figure 1 is a schematic view depicting a strand according to the invention. 10 Figure 2 is a schematic depiction depicting a tape according to another embodiment of the invention. t Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, in a partially exploded view. 15 Figure 4 is a schematic depiction of a metal plate providing conduction between the sheathed elemejit and the conducting wires with good mechanical properties. 2&> Figure 1 depicts a strand or rope according to the present invention. This strand fundamentally consists of the metal wires (1) made of stainless steel and m fact exhibiting good mechanical properties, particularly in terms of breaking stress and 25 elongation. These stainless steel metal wires surround a metal wire (2) sheathed in plastic. This metal wire (2) advantageously is made of copper or aluminium which, as is known, has good electrical conductivity. Over its entire length it has a plastic sheath 3 0 interrupted, for example at the zones where the strand thus formed is fixed to the electric insulators, or at each of the connections between two consecutive reels. At this point, the bared zones of the copper wire therefore come into contact with the stainless steel 3 5 wires, thus passing on the electrical conduction and raising the voltage available at the said stainless steel wires to more or less the nominal level of voltage available at the output of the electrification device to the output terminal of which the strand is - 8 - connected, give or take the voltage drop due to its own resistance. In this particular instance, the sheathed conductor (2) 5 also acts as a support for the electric fence. In the embodiment depicted in conjunction with Figures 2 and 3, the electric fence is in the form of a tape (3) baaed on woven, braided or knitted plastic, 10 and therefore not electrically conducting, filaments. This tape (3) incorporates, as warp filaments, metal conducting elements (1) made of stainless steel and therefore apparent at more or less regular intervals on 15 each of the surfaces of the said tape. Advantageously, these tapes are dyed in the mass, in a highly visible colour, so as to attract the attention of the animals intended to be enclosed using the said 2 0 fence. This tape also contains a copper wire (4) which is sheathed over most of its length by a sheath (5) and stitched to the tape. In an alternative version, this 25 wire (2) may constitute one of the warp filaments of the tape (3). At more or less regular intervals, the copper wire (4) is bared, for example where the tape is fixed to the 3 0 insulators, or at connections between two reels In these regions, metal plates (6) trap the tape and the bared parts of .the conductor (4) so as thus to relay the electricity at the metal conductors (1). 35 Thus, at regular intervals, and bearing in mind the low electrical resistivity of the copper of which the conducting element (4) is made, the voltage within it remains practically constant and more or less corresponds to that delivered by the electrification _ 9 _ device, which means that it is applied to the conductors made of stainless steel at regular intervals, so that a practically nominal voltage will be available at all points along the tape. 5 The electric fence thua produced therefore has, regardless of its position, a high voltage as close as possible to the voltage delivered by the electrification device, as a result of the relaying 10 performed by the sheathed metal conductor (4). Figure 4 depicts a metal plate (6) according to the embodiment of the invention. 15 Typically, this plate (6) is in fact made of two plates (7) and (8) , one (8) of them having a semicylindrical deformation (9) capable of housing the sheathed wire (2) . 2 0 These two plates (7) and (8) are joined together firmly by means of nuts (10) screwed into threaded orifices (11) provided for that purpose. There is thus obtained an electric fence of low cost 25 price with electrical properties compatible with the envisaged applications, including for long-distance fences, without the risk of corrosion and allowing reuse many times. </div>

Claims

<div class="application article clearfix printTableText" id="claims"> - 10 - 5 0 f'} '; What We claim is-

1. Electric fence strands, or ribbons, wherein said strand or ribbon includes at least one electrically conducting metal wire substantially providing the mechanical properties including breaking stress, elongation and anti-corrosiveness the properties being such as to resist breakage and retain the conduction of electricity throughout the entire length of the electric fence, having a support, wherein the strand or ribbon incorporates at least one other electrically conducting wire substantially providing the electrical conductivity such that the electric fence maintains its dissuasive and repellent nature with respect to the animals enclosed throughout the entire length of the fence, sheathed with an insulating material over its entire length except for zones distributed at approximately regular intervals where the said electrically conducting wire or wires substantially providing the electrical conductivity is in direct or indirect contact with the said metal wire or wires substantially providing the mechanical properties. - -

2 Electric fence strand or ribbon according to claim 1, wherein the metal wire or wires substantially providing the mechanical properties defined m claim 1 are made of stainless steel

3 Electric fence strand or ribbon according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the metal conducting wire or wires substantially providing the electrical conductivity are made of copper or aluminium.

4. Electric fence strand or ribbon according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the support consists of the sheathed wire thereby forming, with the metal wire substantially providing the mechanical properties defined in claim 1, a strand or a rope.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF N.Z.

2

5 JUL 2001 RECEIVED

Electric fence strand or ribbon according to claims 1 to 3, wherein the support consists of a woven, braided or knitted tape made of an insulating material.

Electric fence strand or ribbon according to claim 5, wherein the insulating material is a synthetic material.

6 .

10

15

t

20

25

7. Electric fence strand or ribbon according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the sheathed conductor constitutes one of the warp filaments of the support.

8. Electric fence strand or ribbon according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein contact between the bared zones of the said sheathed conductor and the metal wire or wires substantially providing the mechanical properties according to claim 1 is by means of metal plates clamping the various conductors ac the said bared zone of the said electrical conducting wire or wires substantially providing the electrical conductivity.

9- Electric fence strand or ribbon according to claim 8,

wherein one of the plates has a semicylmdrical housing intended to house the sheathed wire.

jU

t

10

40

Electric fence strand or ribbon according to any one of Claims 1 to wherein the sheath of the sheathed conductor is anti-UV treated.

11. A electric fence including one or more electric fence

3 5

strands or ribbons according to any one of claims 1 to 10

12. Electric fence strand or ribbon substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying Figures 1 to 4 .

13. Electric fence strand or ribbon according to claim 1

substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying Figures 1 to 4.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF N.Z.

1 1 JUL 2001 RECEIVED

1

15

I

25

30

I

ft ^

- 12 v ''J

5

14. Electric fence strand or ribbon according to any one of claims 1 to 10 substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying Figures 1 to 4.

15. Electric fence strand or ribbon according to any one of 10 claims 1 to 10 substantially as herein described.

16. An electric fence according to claim 11, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying Figures 1 to 4.

17. An electric fence according to claim 11, substantially as herein described.

20 Jean-Michael BELLON

By His Attorneys BALDWIN SHELSTON WATERS

35

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF N.Z.

1 1 JUL 2001 RECEIVED

</div>